Alex Salmond is making a show of strength

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Alex Salmond stepped down this week

Alex Salmond has, emulating the example of nationalist bloggers, solicited donations from loyal followers, in order to fund his case against the Scottish government. I believe that, within 24 hours, he has received more than £50,000, which was his original target.

It has presumably not occurred to the donors that, instead of contributing to the costs incurred by a relatively wealthy man, they might have made a donation to their local food bank. That would have been appropriate, given how many nationalists complain about the need for food banks.

The crowdfunded monies are, to my mind, intended less to bail out a politician incurring legal costs than to demonstrate to the rest of us, and particularly to Nicola Sturgeon, how much loyalty Alex Salmond continues to command within the nationalist camp. This may not be a declaration of war, but I believe it is certainly intended as a show of strength.

Jill Stephenson

Edinburgh

Daft wigs for all Americans

Donald Trump has expressed concern that web searches for his name flag up articles that reveal him in an unflattering light, and this has led him to tweet the somewhat ominous “this is a very serious situation – will be addressed”.

It is interesting that he only recently visited Kim Jong-un in North Korea; it may well have been to seek advice on how to create a tinpot dictatorship – after all, he has already taken to putting close friends and family members into high-ranking governmental roles, he has continually expressed consternation and frustration at the way that objective (or “fake”, as he puts it) news is reported, leading him to make outright attacks on the media, and now it sounds as though he wants to set restrictions on the internet.

US citizens should have a care or before too long they may well be forced to wear their hair in an absurd style that looks like a daft wig, wear ties elongated to look as though they were knotted by an infant, and even lose their freedom to express an honest opinion on their glorious leader.

Julian Self

Milton Keynes

Thank you for addressing mental health

The Independent is to be applauded for giving greater prominence to mental health issues. They are global public health scourges with cruel, inhumane and debilitating repercussions on individuals, families, communities and economies alike. They leave behind them a trail of unmitigated anguish, isolation, marginalisation, productivity and human potential loss.

Negative stigmatisation, transportation, costs and lack of knowledge and public and political ignorance remain barriers to accessing available mental health services. It is time to challenge such attitudes that perpetuate stigma and strive to achieve the sustainable development agenda that pledges to not leave anyone behind.

Munjed Farid al Qutob

London NW2

Maybe Corbyn’s doing something right

Jeremy Corbyn must be doing something very right in order to be the recipient of so many (personal) attacks from so many political, economic, corporate, media and religious elites. I was talking to a British Jewish friend the other day, a policeman and staunch Corbyn supporter, and we both agreed this to be the case!

Angelos Sepos

Bath

Having a say in all possible futures

Reading that former Ukip supporters are being encouraged to join the Conservative Party, I decided to pay the subscription of £2.09 per month and join as well. I voted Remain in the referendum and, provided the election of a new Conservative Party leader is at least three months away, will use my vote against those such as Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-Mogg. Can I encourage others, like me, to pay for the right to vote? We can leave as soon as a new leader is elected.

Anthony Pearson

Gwynedd

Theresa May’s fatal error

Having grown up in South Africa, I watched Theresa May’s dance with an experienced eye. She needs more freedom of movement.

Brenda Beary

London NW3